Chapter 3:Meeting New Cats
Lightning and Hagrid had fallen asleep as soon as they were safe in the forest. When Lightning woke up, Hagrid was nowhere to be seen. A rustle from a nearby bush made Lightning stand in a defensive position. The noise got closer and closer untila cat's pelt showed. Instinct took over and Lightning slid under his attacker. Pushing his weight upwards, he flipped the cat onto his back and pinned him down. "Hagrid? What are you doing?"
Hagrid rolled over so Lightning would get off of him. "Nice move Lightningkit! But how did you know how to do that?" "Why did you call me Lightningkit? I think I attacked because of instinct. Why were you trying to attack me?!" Hagrid explained the warrior customs of kits, apprentices, and warriors. "I was bringing back fresh-kill. I didn't think you knew how to hunt, so I hunted for you." "Thank you, but I lived with Dudley, so I had to hunt for my food when he ate mine," Lightningkit said while eating the plump mouse Hagrid caught. he had almost eaten it all when Hagrid spoke up. "Is there any left for me?"
Lightningkit stopped. There was only a little left. "Sorry." "Don't sorry me, sorry your Clan.A Clan cat gives his prey to they elders, queens, and kits before he eats." Hagrid mewed after eating the rest of the mouse. Then Hagrid told Lightningkit about the Warrior Code. After Hagrid stopped, the toms traveled to the Clans. Finally, they walked into a clearing with four tall oaks surronding it. The sight of all the cats relaxing and sharing tongues took Lightningkit's breath away.
One cat noticed them and ran over to him. It was a dark ginger she-cat. "Hello Hagrid," she said. Hagrid grunted in responce and went to talk to a gray tom. "I'm Goldenplant,Lightningkit." Lightningkit knew other cats would know him, but it still took him by surprise. two other cats ran up to him. A ginger tom with big paws and a curly-furred she-cat. The tom started talking. "Hi! I'm Heatkit and this is Twirlkit and we are each six moons old and-" "Sorry Lightningkit. He's a bit rambunctious," Goldenplant meowed. Heatkit's mouth fell open. "Lightningkit?! Like the Lightningkit?!" "Yes. But please don't make a scene. I don't want people to notice me yet," Lightningkit said. Twirlkit calmed Heatkit down. "I've heard about you, and I came from a kitty-pet home too. Don't worry about living here. It's pretty fun."
"HELP!" some cat suddenly called out. Hagrid ran off to see what was happening. The kits followed him. A light brown tom was thrashing underneath a black tom. A white she-cat was watching the fight. Hagrid pulled the black tom of of the other. "Shadowkit! Why are you fighting with Lionkit?" he asked. Shadowkit snarled,"Moonkit," his tail flicked over to point at the she-cat nearby,"said that I couldn't beat Lionkit in a fight. So I went to prove her wrong." Hagrid sighed and set Shadowkit down. Lionkit stammered aploigies and Hagrid hushed him then went to Moonkit.
"Hey! The Clan leaders are here!" Heatpaw meowed. Four cats were walking into the clearing. "There her so StarClan can tell them who belongs in their Clan. StarClan is where good cats go when they die," Heatpaw explained when he saw the blank looks on his friends faces. The kits went back to Goldenplant and settled down to sleep, for it was now night. Tomarrow they would find out where they would live their lives.